I'll be arriving at Heathrow mid-morning on a Friday and will be going to Ely. It looks like most trains to Ely leave from King's Cross. Would the best way to go be to take the Piccadilly line to King's Cross, then train to Ely? Do I need to buy train tickets in advance?
Thanks!
I haven’t fully researched yet as our trip is in November, but I suggest looking into a National Express coach from Heathrow direct to Cambridge and a short train ride from there to Ely.
Yes, tube to KC then train is best. No need to book ahead, nor any benefit in doing so.
The problem of a hybrid approach as suggested above (and Flixbus also run from Heathrow to Cambridge) is the need to then transfer from Cambridge Bus Station to Rail Station, making it a slower and more awkward route.
Although if you were lucky you might connect into the every 2 hours citybus #9 from Cambridge to Ely.
If going for such a hybrid approach I would choose National Express to Stansted Airport then train, or NE to Newmarket then hourly bus 112 to Ely.
Thank you for your suggestions! This is very helpful. I think we’ll go with the KC to Ely option since the trains are hourly, but we have some back up plans if Option A is not working.
Following as I will be doing something similar.
Eef and Slate- Please report back on the options you end up with and how they worked.
What we’ll be doing is taking train from London to Cambridge (after a few days there), then doing a day trip to Ely by train on a different day, and then ultimately, going from Cambridge to Heathrow to catch a 1:20 pm flight to US (it was 4:30 pm which would have been much better but the airline changed it, oh well). As discussed it looks like options are train to Kings Cross or Liverpool Street, tube from KC or Elizabeth Line from LS; or alternatively, direct coach on National Express to airport. Another factor is that it looks like the coach station is about one mile from rail station and our hotel is very near the latter, which is a plus for the train options. And the coaches are either one on National Express that arrives at 10:30 am which is cutting it a bit close, or VERY early departures, such as 6:00 am, which arrive plenty early at airport, but perhaps unnecessarily so. FlixBus also has very early coaches, which are currently quite a bit less expensive, but the online “vibe” seems to be that National Express is considered more reliable. So probably the train and will book when cheaper advance fares are available, looks like it’s still a bit early for that. The overall travel time between train via London, and direct coach looks comparable.
Slate, how interesting that you will be going to Ely as well. I was there about 10 years ago but didn’t have the time to properly see the cathedral. I remember someone telling me that we really needed to stay a little longer which wasn’t possible for us at the time. I’ve been feeling guilty for 10 years and now I’m dedicating a day to doing it right!
Apart from the Cathedral there is also Ely Museum plus Oliver Cromwell's House- you can buy a combo ticket for those, the Cathedral and the Stained Glass Museum, but only at Oliver Cromwell's House, as far as I am aware.
Another hidden gem is Bishop Crauden's Chapel, in the old monastic close- you are meant to make prior arrangements to visit, although in term time you can in theory turn up to the Kings School reception and ask for the key.
Afterwards stroll down through the meadows to The Maltings, at the side of the River Ouse- it is quite lovely down there (a quintessential English riverside), and is also the nicest route to or from the Railway Station, which is at the bottom end of town (whereas buses stop on Market Street in the Town Centre, saving the walk up from the station). From Market Street the obvious approach to the Cathedral is to the Almonry then the side gate into the Cathedral close.
Ah, thank you for these suggestions. This is so helpful. We will have time the day we arrive too. We went to Cromwell’s house on our last visit but I’m sure I have forgotten everything in 10 years. The other suggestions will be new.
If you get to The Maltings mentioned just above, there is a very good traditional tea room nearly next door on the WaterSide. Excellent, just excellent. It is called Peacocks Tea Room because it is run by ... Mr and Mrs Peacock.
We speak from personal experience. https://www.peacockstearoom.co.uk/
